Chapter 24 - Bidding War for a Lost Legacy
"Forty-five million," I announced, raising my paddle with a steadiness that belied the storm raging inside me.
The auctioneer's eyes gleamed with undisguised excitement. "Forty-five million from paddle number 42. Do I hear fifty?"
Julian's paddle shot up instantly, without even a moment's hesitation. He still hadn't bothered to turn around and face me.
"Fifty million from paddle number 27. Do I hear fifty-five?"
I gripped my paddle tighter, taking a deep breath. The jade bracelet glimmered under the spotlights, its intricate dragons and phoenixes dancing in eternal harmony. I could almost hear my mother's voice, telling me stories about how it had been passed down through generations of women in her family before my father had taken everything.
"Fifty-five million," I said, my voice clear and firm.
Ivy turned in her wheelchair, her lips curled in a mocking smile. "You really want it, don't you, Hazel? How sweet."
